For Release: December 7, 2006 CA-CDD-07-10
Contact: BLM: Stephen Razo (951)-697-5217; E-mail: srazo@ca.blm.gov
USFS: Nancy Upham (760) 873-2427; E-mail: nupham@fs.fed.us

BLM Extends Comment Period for Furnace Creek Road

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has extended the comment period from December 11, 2006 to January 15, 2007 on a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare a proposed amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) plan for the long-term management of a 3.7 mile-long portion of the Furnace Creek Road.

The Furnace Creek Road environmental assessment (EA) was released for a 30-day public comment period in January 2005. Two additional public meetings were held in February 2005 to gather additional public comments. The EA has been updated to reflect the comments received and is available for review at http://www.ca.blm.gov/ridgecrest.

In June 2004, Ridgecrest BLM and the Inyo National Forest entered into a memorandum of understanding to develop an environmental assessment to analyze potential impacts of closing the Furnace Creek Road to vehicular traffic. As part of the public involvement process, the agencies conducted six public meetings and two field trips from November 2003 through August 2004 to gather additional public input.

The public may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing to the Field Office Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 South Richmond Road, Ridgecrest CA 93555, (760) 384-5400. Comments should only address the 3.7 mile BLM portion of the Furnace Creek Road. The Forest Service has completed their part of the EA and is not soliciting or accepting comments at this time.

A plan amendment is needed to complete the motorized vehicle access and travel management planning initiated under the CDCA plan and subsequent amendment for the Northern and Eastern Mojave Desert (NEMO) area. In its May 2004 NEMO route designation amendment, BLM committed to addressing the Furnace Creek Road in a "separate planning process."

For more information contact the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office at (760) 384-5400.

-- BLM--